FAA funds Hays airport improvements

2020-06-15T04:49:15-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Hays Regional Airport, Hays Aircraft LLC general manager Chris Springer is aware of the $2.2 million in upgrades the city of Hays has planned in the next year for the airport. The construction, financed by the Federal Aviation Administration through the Phase III Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, will have minimal affect on operations, according to city officials. Hays Aircraft, the fixed base operator that fuels and repairs aircraft and offers flight lessons, will see a difference when work begins on an asphalt overlay to rehabilitate Airport Fuel Road on the east side of the airport. “That’s how [...]

Parsons to consider microchipping vicious dogs

2020-06-15T07:47:50-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Recent dog bites in Parsons may lead to approval of an ordinance requiring the owners of vicious dogs to pay for an identification microchip. The ordinance city commissioners will consider on Monday would require the city to impound any animal that bites a person and have it implanted with a microchip to help identify the animal in the future. The cost would be assessed to the owner if the animal is ultimately declared viscous. The dog could later be impounded in violation of the ordinance requiring vicious animals to be removed from the city. The city would have the option to [...]

Public pool patron in Ark City confirmed to have virus, free testing Monday

2020-06-15T07:48:11-05:00June 15th, 2020|

A teenager girl who tested positive for the coronavirus was at the Arkansas City public pool on Wednesday and also attended a sleep over in Ark City, possibly exposing others to the virus, according to a press release from the public health department. The girl, 14, experienced symptoms June 5 and was tested in Sedgwick County, where she splits residence with custodial parents there and in Cowley County. The girl’s mother took the child to a local private care clinic, which contracted a private lab for the test. She came to Cowley County this week and Wednesday night the test result [...]

Brew tourism boosting small-town economies, farmers

2020-06-15T07:48:21-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Nationwide, consumers are making micro-breweries a destination. As more and more people want to support local businesses, they’re heading to micro-breweries – sometimes supporting a farmer in addition to the brewery. Breweries are bringing customers into small towns and cities across Kansas. “It’s not just visiting Sonoma anymore,“ said Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association. “People are willing to travel to visit a brewery. Brew tours of micro-breweries are big now.” Although dozens of breweries in Wichita and Kansas City garner followers, cities off the beaten path, like Garden City and Scott City, attract “beer tourists,“ as well (Read [...]

Support for law enforcement shown at Pratt rally

2020-06-15T07:48:30-05:00June 15th, 2020|

The sun was hot, the Kansas wind blowing and the gathered crowd small in numbers, but the support felt by Pratt county and city police officers was overwhelming, and they were grateful a community prayer support service Thursday evening in Pratt. “I wanted to do this because I just felt we need unity and peace in our country,” said prayer support service organizer Donna Rawlings. “We are so thankful here, for all of our law enforcement, police, fire, EMS workers. It never hurts to offer prayers for their safety and to let them know, publicly, that we appreciate all that they [...]

Hutch Municipal Band celebrating 145th season

2020-06-15T07:48:36-05:00June 15th, 2020|

The Hutchinson Municipal Band is pleased to announce their 2020 Summer Concert Series beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. In light of the threat of COVID-19, performances will move from the Reno County Farmer’s Market to Carey Park next to the Hutchinson Zoo to facilitate social distancing and give patrons with pre-existing conditions and other high-risk categories the opportunity to enjoy concerts from the safety of their cars. “It was so important to perform that even if our season was abbreviated, it was important to provide some normalcy to our community. But we wanted to be smart about it,” said [...]

Wheat harvest 2020 is a go, some fields going at 60 bushels an acre

2020-06-15T07:48:41-05:00June 15th, 2020|

There’s finally some good news for 2020. The wheat harvest is getting started in Sumner County and it looks good so far. Obviously, the Coronavirus did not affect the wheat and the weather cooperated, and that should make for a good crop this year. Sumner County Extension Agent Randy Hein said the weather provided a good fill period, and it seems dry enough for farmers to get in the fields and begin harvesting. Some have already started in the Caldwell area, as well as Wellington. There are some areas of the county that still have some maturing to do. The extension [...]

Protestors in downtown Ark City call for racial justice

2020-06-15T07:49:00-05:00June 15th, 2020|

The “Black Lives Matter” chant being shouted across the globe reached Arkansas City, Kansas on Saturday afternoon as protestors against racial injustice packed the corners of a busy downtown intersection. At 1 p.m., Summit Street and Central Avenue began to fill up with residents holding all manner of signs and occasionally shouting “Black Lives Matter” as cars drove by, many of which honked their horns in support. The event was staged near Ben Givens City Center Park, which offered some shade for protester throughout the hot afternoon. Notably, the park is named after a former Ark City mayor and police officer [...]

Winfield Public Library begins curbside service

2020-06-15T07:49:19-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Winfield Public Library will begin curbside service the week of June 14 for those in the 67156 zip code. Patrons can pick up requested books, Grab & Go Crafts, book club books, Summer Reading Program packets and more. Board games and DVDs are not available for check out at this time. During curbside, patrons can either request items online using WPL’s catalog (found at wpl.org) or can call the library during call hours. For those who are book browsers or aren’t sure exactly which books they want, can call and library personnel will make recommendations. Once ordered books are pulled, patrons [...]

Gardner faces revenue shortfall, makes cuts

2020-06-15T07:49:30-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Gardner’s general fund is projected to have a $1.2 million revenue shortfall, according to Matthew Wolff, Gardner finance director. Councilmember’s discussed the city’s budget at their May 18 meeting. The shortfall is partly due to the impact of COVD 19, community growth and staffing needs, increased operational costs with the new Justice Center and special assessments moved from the bond and interest fund. Revenue sources impacted include city and county sales tax, programming revenues for parks and recreation, municipal court fines and fees. To maintain a general fund balance of 25 percent , the finance staff implemented budget cuts of $1.4 [...]

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